The Athens-Clarke County Commission placed a limit ban Monday on public gatherings, becoming the latest Georgia community to take dramatic steps to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The ban prohibits more than 10 people at places like bars and restaurants, entertainment venues and publicly owned property, including city streets, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.
But the commission stopped short of ordering a curfew to keep people at home.
The first proposed curfew would have run from 9 p.m.-5 p.m. each day, and a second would have run from 7 p.m.-5 p.m. Commissioners rejected both, with some arguing the limit of 10 people at a gathering would be sufficient.
The ban on gatherings could be expanded to political rallies, weddings and church activities when county attorney Judd Drakes makes a report to the commission, which could happen as early as next week, the newspaper said.
Only three cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Athens-Clarke County. But some medical professionals say the numbers around the country have been artificially low because of the limited number of tests that have been conducted.
